Original Articles

  • CalHHS Secretary Extends Mask Mandate to Mid-February

    January 7, 2022

    Mark Ghaly, M.D., MPH, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) secretary, has extended California’s indoor mask mandate by another full month. The masking requirement intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic now runs through February 15. While citing a recent surge in the state’s positivity rate to over 21 percent, Ghaly also noted data on […]

  • Fed-OSHA seeks suggestions for strengthening VPP

    June 27, 2017

    Fed-OSHA is holding a stakeholder meeting July 17, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. The agency’s aim is to “reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth.” Fed-OSHA is […]

Curated Content Articles of Interest from Around the Web

    NY Offers SMBs $1,000 Heat PPE Rebate

     

    NY Offers Self-Insured Fund Members Heat PPE Reimbursement

    • New York’s Self-Insurance Fund is offering a one-time credit to workers’ compensation policyholders for the purchase of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for extreme heat.
    • NYSIF is giving a 10% credit of annual premium on the purchase of heat-related PPE, with a maximum reimbursement of $1,000, on purchases since May 15, 2025.
    • This credit is aimed at qualified businesses that fall within manufacturing, warehousing, carpentry, landscaping, and farming sector industries, where workers face elevated risks from exposure to extreme temperatures, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
    • To qualify, a business must have an online account with NYSIF, employ 10 or fewer workers.
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    Michigan OSHA ‘Take A Stand’ Offers No-Penalty Visits

    • The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is again offering the state’s employers,
      particularly those in high-hazard industries, to request one-on-one consultations focusing on specific hazards and areas, as requested by the business.
    • The offer is part of MIOSHA 20th anniversary of the Take a Stand for Workplace Safety and Health event, Aug. 11–15
    • MIOSHA compliance and consultation staff will visit Michigan worksites that will be not result in citations or penalties for the participating workplaces, as long as the employer agrees to correct all serious hazards.
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    OSHA Proposes to Remove Some Respiratory Protection Requirements

    • Among the deregulatory efforts announced earlier this month, OSHA has proposed removing medical evaluation requirements for filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR).
    • Currently, the medical evaluation requirement is a key component of the respiratory standard for all respirators.
    • The proposed updates are based on the agency’s preliminary determination that using a respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee.
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